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Available
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DAW
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML:In this new series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily must continue to protect the realm of Valdemar while raising their children and preparing them to follow in their footsteps. Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife, Amily, the King�??s Own Herald, are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Peregrine, has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech�??he can talk to animals and persuade them to act as he wishes. Perry's dream is to follow in his father's footsteps as a Herald Spy, but he has yet to be Chosen by a Companion. Mags is more than happy to teach Perry all he knows. He regularly trains his children, including Perry, with tests and exercises, preparing them for the complicated and dangerous lives they will likely lead. Perry has already held positions in the Royal Palace as a runner and in the kitchen, useful places where he can learn to listen and collect information. But there is growing rural unrest in a community on the border of Valdemar. A report filled with tales of strange disappearances and missing peddlers is sent to Haven by a Herald from the Pelagirs. To let Perry experience life away from home and out in the world, Mags proposes that his son accompany him on an expedition to discover what is really going on. During their travels, Perry�??s Animal Mindspeech allows him to communicate with the local wildlife of the Pelagirs, whose connection to the land aids in their investigation. But the details he gleans from the creatures only deepen the mystery. As Perry, Mags, and their animal companions draw closer to the heart of the danger, they must discover the truth behind the disappearances at the border�??before those disappearances… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bidwell-Glaze
Although you need to know basics of the Valdemar universe in order to get the most of the story, you do not need to have read the earlier books about Mags & Amily (the parents) in order to understand the book. It is mostly about their oldest son, Perigrine, and his first "adventure" along with his
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father. Well paced, Explainations of Perry's mind magic flow in the needed conversations, and do not seem either forced or boring. Character development continues about Mags, and is consistent about Perry. Show Less
LibraryThing member iBeth
An entertaining jaunt through Valdemar and beyond. The synopsis on the book jacket really threw me off--it calls Mags' oldest son "Justyn" instead of "Perry," and although the motivating problem of the plot (disappearances) is the same, everything else is completely different than the book. Also, I
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found the ending of this novel to be a bit abrupt and overly expository, and I wish the kyree didn't talk like Scooby Doo. Overall, I liked getting to know Perry and I hope to see more books about the next generation in Valdemar. Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
A slow starting adventure featuring Mags son Perry whose talent is animal mindspeach. At 13 his training to be a spy has had him escaping mock kidnappings, working with Mags in the city shop, weapons training and fortuitously being a dog-boy. Then a retired heralds reports of disappearances are
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brought to Mags attention and Mags and Perry head to the Pelagir hills. Lackey's most touching stories are of people whose pain and vulnerability find comfort and companionship among the heralds or other good folk, and really Perry's worst problems are more mild insecurities about his abilities and desire to employ those abilities, so almost none of the typical Lackey outsider finds a home. Show Less
LibraryThing member CurrerBell
Pretty good ending, but it took a while getting there. I bought this seeing that it's the first of a new trilogy and, never having read Lackey, thought I'd use this as an introduction. I hadn't realized that this "new" trilogy is actually the continuation of a much longer series. I'd probably have
And in fairness to Lackey, the slow pace of the first half or more of the novel may have been an effort to impart backstory so that the book would be more self-standing. To a very large degree, this was successful.
My favorite character was Larral, the kyree.
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rated this book higher if I had more background in the Valdemar-verse.And in fairness to Lackey, the slow pace of the first half or more of the novel may have been an effort to impart backstory so that the book would be more self-standing. To a very large degree, this was successful.
My favorite character was Larral, the kyree.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I wasn't sure if I would like this one because it was pure fantasy and it read a little like a YA book but it was engrossing, with interesting characters and sufficient action and suspense to keep me reading. It's one in a series of books but I didn't mind reading this out of sequence. It worked as
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a stand-alone. I may even read some others of this author if I have the time. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Nice! This feels much more...Heraldish? than Mags' previous adventures. Of course, this isn't really a Mags adventure, it's his son Perry finding his wings...Mags and Perry go on a trip out to the edge of the Pelagirs, looking for info on possible missing persons. What they find is a heck of a lot
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more than anyone expected, on many levels. Perry's Animal Mindspeech produces some...interesting...effects, including the fairy-tale-style helping those who need help and getting help in return (Bondbird ravens, and a herd of dyheli). Plus the kyree. It's more of a coming-of-age story, and less of "outsider finds a home", than most Valdemar books - but the same interesting characters and settings, and a very peculiar villain. Enjoyable, and I'm interested to see the next book. Which will, I presume, be Abi's growing-up adventure... Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This new Valdemar story takes place after Mags and Amily have married and had three children. Mags is a Herald spy and Amily is the King's Own herald. They have three children. This story talks about a trip Mags takes with his oldest son, thirteen-year-old Perry.
All of Mags and Amily's children
When a retired herald sends a message about a large number of people going missing around his area, Mags decides to investigate and decides to take Perry along for a chance at some training outside the city. This herald's village is on the edge of the Pelagirs which has long been known for strange events and beings.
They soon find themselves involved in a situation that is much more complex and dangerous than Mags would have wanted for a training mission. Someone is kidnapping lone travelers and taking them somewhere unknown. When they discover that the kidnapper has mindspeech powerful enough to control a whole troop of mercenaries, Mags is all for sending information back to the King and keeping out of the way. But Perry feels the need to do something NOW.
Perry and his new companion Larral who is a kyree go to the kidnapper's fortress in the guise of a Dog-Boy to take care of the mastiff pack that is there. Perry puts on the persona of a simple-minded kid which, along with his shields, helps him conceal his mindspeech from the kidnapper. The only problem is that he doesn't have a way back out of the fortress and things are getting more and more dangerous as the kidnapper tries to enhance his mindspeech with blood magic and gets more insane all the time. He even awakens the spirit of the fortress and creates another enemy for himself.
There was all sorts of tension in this story as Perry and Larral investigate inside and Mags tries to figure out how to rescue his son and neutralize the kidnapper before he gets the idea of invading Valdemar.
I enjoyed this coming of age story. Perry's experiences give him a new point of view on his father and his decisions mature him. I can't wait to read more in this new series to learn more about Mags and Amily's other children.
All of Mags and Amily's children
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have been taught to take care of themselves and to be spy-like. It is likely that they will all choose to serve Valdemar whether or not they are chosen by Companions and become Heralds themselves. Perry has animal mindspeech which allows him to talk to most kinds of animals. He can see through their eyes which is a great advantage for a budding spy. He can also direct them to do things for him. When a retired herald sends a message about a large number of people going missing around his area, Mags decides to investigate and decides to take Perry along for a chance at some training outside the city. This herald's village is on the edge of the Pelagirs which has long been known for strange events and beings.
They soon find themselves involved in a situation that is much more complex and dangerous than Mags would have wanted for a training mission. Someone is kidnapping lone travelers and taking them somewhere unknown. When they discover that the kidnapper has mindspeech powerful enough to control a whole troop of mercenaries, Mags is all for sending information back to the King and keeping out of the way. But Perry feels the need to do something NOW.
Perry and his new companion Larral who is a kyree go to the kidnapper's fortress in the guise of a Dog-Boy to take care of the mastiff pack that is there. Perry puts on the persona of a simple-minded kid which, along with his shields, helps him conceal his mindspeech from the kidnapper. The only problem is that he doesn't have a way back out of the fortress and things are getting more and more dangerous as the kidnapper tries to enhance his mindspeech with blood magic and gets more insane all the time. He even awakens the spirit of the fortress and creates another enemy for himself.
There was all sorts of tension in this story as Perry and Larral investigate inside and Mags tries to figure out how to rescue his son and neutralize the kidnapper before he gets the idea of invading Valdemar.
I enjoyed this coming of age story. Perry's experiences give him a new point of view on his father and his decisions mature him. I can't wait to read more in this new series to learn more about Mags and Amily's other children.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Another good story in this long-running and very good series. Perry is turning 13 when he joins Mags and both go underground to investigate numerous disappearances on the fringe of Valdemar's borders. Perry penetrates a mysterious fortress as a "dogboy" and discovers a very malevolent presence that
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holds everyone in thrall. Lots of assistance from prescient local creatures are required and used before Perry with help from Mags as well, escapes and makes things right. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgknighton
Mags and Amily have their own family and the children are about ready to join the business of spying. Perry is off on his first mission into the Pelagirs.
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
Set far enough from the last Mags book that now he has several children with his wife and is working as a spy for the king. His eldest son wants to follow in his Dad’s footsteps and is training hard with his siblings learning things that might be useful for them if they become Heralds. Word comes
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to the capital of people going missing that are not that important. There is a nearby retired Herald that had reported this, but he can’t investigate it due to health. Mags and his eldest son Perry disguise themselves as traders and go and check out things. Things are happening and along the way Mags and his son meet several non-human residents of the Pelagirs and Perry animal mindspeech skills become very useful. A nice coming of age of story and I wonder if the next book will focus on one of the siblings or follow more on Perry? Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This new Valdemar story takes place after Mags and Amily have married and had three children. Mags is a Herald spy and Amily is the King's Own herald. They have three children. This story talks about a trip Mags takes with his oldest son, thirteen-year-old Perry.
All of Mags and Amily's children
When a retired herald sends a message about a large number of people going missing around his area, Mags decides to investigate and decides to take Perry along for a chance at some training outside the city. This herald's village is on the edge of the Pelagirs which has long been known for strange events and beings.
They soon find themselves involved in a situation that is much more complex and dangerous than Mags would have wanted for a training mission. Someone is kidnapping lone travelers and taking them somewhere unknown. When they discover that the kidnapper has mindspeech powerful enough to control a whole troop of mercenaries, Mags is all for sending information back to the King and keeping out of the way. But Perry feels the need to do something NOW.
Perry and his new companion Larral who is a kyree go to the kidnapper's fortress in the guise of a Dog-Boy to take care of the mastiff pack that is there. Perry puts on the persona of a simple-minded kid which, along with his shields, helps him conceal his mindspeech from the kidnapper. The only problem is that he doesn't have a way back out of the fortress and things are getting more and more dangerous as the kidnapper tries to enhance his mindspeech with blood magic and gets more insane all the time. He even awakens the spirit of the fortress and creates another enemy for himself.
There was all sorts of tension in this story as Perry and Larral investigate inside and Mags tries to figure out how to rescue his son and neutralize the kidnapper before he gets the idea of invading Valdemar.
I enjoyed this coming of age story. Perry's experiences give him a new point of view on his father and his decisions mature him. I can't wait to read more in this new series to learn more about Mags and Amily's other children.
All of Mags and Amily's children
Show More
have been taught to take care of themselves and to be spy-like. It is likely that they will all choose to serve Valdemar whether or not they are chosen by Companions and become Heralds themselves. Perry has animal mindspeech which allows him to talk to most kinds of animals. He can see through their eyes which is a great advantage for a budding spy. He can also direct them to do things for him. When a retired herald sends a message about a large number of people going missing around his area, Mags decides to investigate and decides to take Perry along for a chance at some training outside the city. This herald's village is on the edge of the Pelagirs which has long been known for strange events and beings.
They soon find themselves involved in a situation that is much more complex and dangerous than Mags would have wanted for a training mission. Someone is kidnapping lone travelers and taking them somewhere unknown. When they discover that the kidnapper has mindspeech powerful enough to control a whole troop of mercenaries, Mags is all for sending information back to the King and keeping out of the way. But Perry feels the need to do something NOW.
Perry and his new companion Larral who is a kyree go to the kidnapper's fortress in the guise of a Dog-Boy to take care of the mastiff pack that is there. Perry puts on the persona of a simple-minded kid which, along with his shields, helps him conceal his mindspeech from the kidnapper. The only problem is that he doesn't have a way back out of the fortress and things are getting more and more dangerous as the kidnapper tries to enhance his mindspeech with blood magic and gets more insane all the time. He even awakens the spirit of the fortress and creates another enemy for himself.
There was all sorts of tension in this story as Perry and Larral investigate inside and Mags tries to figure out how to rescue his son and neutralize the kidnapper before he gets the idea of invading Valdemar.
I enjoyed this coming of age story. Perry's experiences give him a new point of view on his father and his decisions mature him. I can't wait to read more in this new series to learn more about Mags and Amily's other children.
Show Less
Original publication date
2018-06-05
Local notes
Valdemar - Family Spies, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Lackey |